JP2001518568A - A method for greatly improving the quality of scoured wool and a machine for achieving the high quality - Google Patents

Abstract

  (57) [Summary] A wool or similar fiber scouring machine containing at least one of the following: (a) subjecting the fiber to an acid extraction step to remove absorbed iron, thereby significantly increasing fiber brightness (Y tristimulus); (B) a scouring step in which the bleaching step is performed halfway through a wet process, followed by drying, rewetting, and chemical reduction to stabilize the bleached color so that no return occurs in the dyeing tank. (C) a scouring process in which the scoured clean fibers are dried and dusted, and then immersed again in a liquor containing a surfactant and a dispersant to effectively remove an excessive amount of residual dust. Refining can produce fibers of improved quality.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a refined fiber in which wool and other similar fibers are refined in a modified refiner and chemically treated to greatly improve a number of important quality parameters. A novel scouring method for producing This process is referred to as "super scouring" for simplicity and convenience.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For several years, the inventors have recognized that the dull appearance of wool is largely related to the presence of rust in wool. In addition, the present inventor has proposed that the iron coordinating therein is converted to a pH of 3 or less, preferably 2.0 to 2.0, in the presence of a sequestering agent such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). It has also been recognized that it can be removed in a process involving the extraction of wool with an acidic solution up to 3.0.

[0003] The inventors have demonstrated several years ago that wool thus extracted can improve its brightness by as much as 4-6Y units. However, this technique could not be implemented effectively in conventional wool scouring machines for several reasons. Heretofore, the development of this technology has required a two-pass processing operation through a conventional combination of processing bowls. The present invention details alternative procedures that can be incorporated into a single continuous processing operation.

[0004] Peroxide bleaching is a well-known method associated with traditional wool scouring in New Zealand and elsewhere. In the normal process, the wool is passed through a hot bowl of 1-10 g / l hydrogen peroxide (always the last bowl in the series) and then squeezed under high pressure to remove most of the bleaching. Place in a wool dryer where the parts (some continue even after packing) are performed. However, this form of peroxide bleaching is that when the wool dries, the peroxide residue present in the fibers begins to yellow and the color of the substrate of the dyed product is not the original bleaching A major drawback is that it is inferior to wool. This phenomenon is called "color return".

The inventor and his colleagues have been able to prevent color reversion several years ago by pretreating wool with a suitable reducing agent such as sodium bisulfite or sodium dionite before dyeing. Demonstrated what can be done. These reducing agents destroy peroxide residues, thereby preventing color reversion. Such a reduction step is not possible with conventional scouring machines, but is easily achieved by the configuration proposed in the accompanying FIGS. 1 (a-d) or other various "super scouring" suitable machine designs. can do.

[0006] In another related art relating to carpet yarns, the inventors have discovered that soil remaining in wool can be removed by a combined action of surfactants and dispersants. However, in conventional wool scouring, although the use of dispersants is often encouraged, it has the level of contamination from liquor suspended solids and the inherent potential for suint salts to disperse in more contaminated bowls As a result, it is usually not cost-effective.

Accordingly, the present invention provides at least one of the following in a wool or similar fiber scouring machine: (A) subjecting the fiber to an acid extraction step to remove the absorbed iron, thereby reducing the fiber brightness (
Scouring process that greatly improves the tristimulus value of Y). (B) A scouring process in which the bleaching process is carried out in a bowl or pad by a wet process halfway, followed by drying, rewetting, and chemical reduction to stabilize the bleached color and thereafter prevent return in the dyeing tank. . (C) A scouring step in which the scoured clean fibers are dried and dusted, and immersed again in a liquor containing a surfactant and a dispersant to effectively remove an excess amount of residual dust. (D) A scouring process that significantly reduces residual oils and pesticide levels by two separate wet treatment steps, thereby minimizing the risk of market resistance associated with traces of animal pesticides.

[0008] Alternatively or additionally, the scouring step may include a step of drying the wool both in the middle and in the final step, the drying operation being expedient by combining it into one integrated drying module. Can be implemented well and economically.

The present invention further provides the following (a) to (c): (a) Providing a yarn spinner or processor with a product that exhibits excellent color and processing performance and has no iron-related discoloration problem in wet processing. Scoured wool produced by means of (a) to (d). (B) scoured wool, also produced by the above, which contains less dust and residual soil, thus providing a safer working environment and improved processing performance for the processor. (C) Improvements in both chemical processing and equipment design, resulting in a cost-effective single pass through a compact, inexpensive machine that is not too long in a linear fashion, while providing cost effectiveness. A process that can achieve all gains.

The present invention can simultaneously achieve these improved qualities with a single pass of the scouring machine components of a substantially modified configuration.

[0011] The Applicant has in particular added new aspects of the individual chemical processing steps, the combination of the chemical processing steps of the entire operation to achieve a particular result, and the equipment to perform the processing. I think there is.

[0012] Applicants have identified specific procedures and, if desired, including the use of a two-pass dryer configuration.
I believe that the arrangement of the equipment components is novel.

[0013] The improvement in the quality obtained by the modified process in particular is: The brightness of the scoured wool obtained when the wool as it comes from the scouring machine is measured by the tristimulus value of Y is greatly improved. thing. In high quality New Zealand hybrid wool, this increase in brightness is 8-9 units Y when compared to conventional scoured wool. The improved color stability of the wool on subsequent dyeing, in contrast to the conventional bleaching process, in which the yellowing that occurs during dyeing loses a great deal of the color advantage. The ability to significantly reduce (on a ratio basis) the residual grease in scoured wool to virtually negligible levels of wool grease on the surface (different from internal wool lipids). That is, the level of residual lipophilic ectoparasiticide in wool can be sufficiently reduced to a level that meets the pesticide content requirements. The fact that wool contamination by finely divided residual soil particles is substantially reduced and brighter wool is obtained, as well as the sewage problems associated with residual waste can be avoided. Compared with conventional scouring wool, it is possible to obtain wool with relatively little dust. Obtaining wool with substantially low iron content, including iron associated with residual refuse and iron that is chemically absorbed and trapped in the fibers.

Next, a method for achieving each of these improvements with the proposed machine configuration will be described.

The Applicant has proposed an effective and logically satisfactory arrangement of equipment that can incorporate this process into a single processing path.

In order to be able to carry out this chemical process with satisfactory efficiency and consistency, all that is required is that the wool be very clean before being acidified, The level of suspended solids in the water is very low to avoid re-adhering to wool, and the level of dissolved ionic substances (mainly suint salts) entering the acid treatment bowl is very low. is there. These requirements are described below and in FIG.
This can be achieved by an arrangement of equipment as shown in d), and an alternative arrangement incorporating a similar overall wet processing step and intermediate drying and dust removal steps.

While acid extraction significantly improves the Y tristimulus, the improvement in the Z tristimulus is somewhat lower and the perceived wool yellowing also increases. This disadvantage is the second of the color improvement described below.
This can be avoided by further strengthening both Y and Z according to the aspect.

The configuration of the equipment shown in FIGS. 1 (a-d) includes a number of features, the details of which are shown in Table 1 below.

[Table 1]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. 1 (ad), peroxide is applied by a pad applicator (4) and on a wool as it passes through a first dryer. It is dried and neutralized by a reducing agent in the second bowl of the parallel row (8). Alternatively, in other installations, the peroxide is
Prior to intermediate drying, it may be applied in a conventional bowl, such as bowls 3-6 of the first wet process stage.

As described above, the brightness is further enhanced by 3Y units by adding a limited peroxide,
The yellowing (YZ) is reduced to a level below the original scoured wool, so that the wool is much lighter and somewhat whitish than conventional scoured wool.

The color stability can be maintained even after blank dyeing (ie, after boiling in a dye-free bath), as the results in Table 2 show.

The results are expressed in terms of the 'base' color, ie the color when the wool has cleaned all foreign matter as shown in NZS8707 1984.

[0023]

[Table 2]

The peroxide-bleached wool initially has a wonderful color, but when it is dyed it becomes dull and very yellowish. The peroxide residue was neutralized (
Peroxide bleaching and reduction) Super scoured wool is more stable in color when blank dyed and remains substantially better than scoured only material.

The apparatus of FIG. 1 (a-d) (or an alternative equivalent second-stage bowl row)
By incorporating an additional scouring process into the first two bowls of the second stage of the process, very low levels of residual grease can be obtained. Typical residual oil and fat levels obtained from ultra scouring in the WRONZ pilot facility scouring are shown in FIG.
In the two-pass simulation of the steps shown in FIGS.
Extraction of dichloromethane (DCM) and surfactant residues in small amounts. In this range, the extracted material is almost entirely lipids of the inner cell membranes emanating from the interior of the fiber, a number which indicates that virtually no wool lipid material on the surface is left. In contrast, in conventional scoured wool from the same facility, the extraction level of DCM is 0.3-0.5%.

Table 3 below shows the reduction of pesticide residues in wool treated in such a two-pass manner, without acid extraction.

[Table 3]

In the configuration of FIG. 1 (a-d) (or equivalent), both the surfactant and the dispersant are used in the first two bowls of the second bowl row (8), In these bowls there is more effective removal of residual soil from wool. Such residual soil removal can be easily demonstrated by performing iron and aluminum analysis on wool. This is because aluminum is mostly detected from residual soil near the surface.

The inventors have recognized that, as part of our reliable prior art, residual debris on wool carpet yarns causes serious problems in yarn wet processing. This is a major characteristic problem in the production of carpet yarn, which can be prevented beforehand by removing residual debris in the process claimed.

[0029] Residual refuse is also undesirable in processing, as equipment, especially carding machines, become sticky in combination with debris, fiber debris, and treated lubricating oil. The product obtained by super scouring is preferably spinnered for reasons of processing efficiency, since the frequency of fettling (cleaning) of the carding machine is reduced.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Dust Removal The processing equipment row of FIGS. 1 (a)-(d) has a well-known technique that is effective in removing dust, finely cut fibers, etc. in the intermediate stage, and is a refined wool. Has a purifier. Subsequent wet processing of the cleaned fibers can result in a product that is less dusty than regular scoured wool, because it removes more dust and fines.

If desired, a second cleaning may be performed at the end of the treatment with a wool purifier.

Fine dust from wool treatment is recognized as a health hazard in some countries, and thus, dust-free wool is advantageous in the market. Super scouring can provide an excellent product in this regard.

Iron Removal As described above, in ultra-refined wool, the absorbed iron has been removed by acid extraction, and the iron oxide on the surface is removed by a second step of the wet treatment with a surfactant and dispersant. Removed in

[0034] Ultra-refined wool thus has no potential risk of iron-related processing problems for spinners and carpet making machines. Defective carpets, in which the product is streaked due to small amounts of iron compounds in the yarn, have become a major problem in the industry, but this can also be prevented beforehand by using super scoured wool.

The method by which super-refined wool provides a more stable yarn in a chemical set is demonstrated by the results of a simulation of a tape-refined chemical set over a period of about 7 時間 hours in a laboratory (Table 4) as follows: can do.

[0036]

[Table 4]

From these results, it can be seen that the ultra-refined wool has almost no change in the basic color during execution (no rust), and the change in the current color is considerably reduced as compared with the ordinary refined wool. , Indicating that there is no problem of soil reattachment. It was clear that the overall lightness and whiteness retention of the ultra scoured product was excellent.

Processing Parameters The composition of various processing bowls required to perform all of the above processing and achieve the stated gains is shown in Table 5 below. This is a generally preferred range of chemical concentrations,
The temperature and, if necessary, the pH value are summarized.

Table 5 assumes that all wet processing operations were performed in conventional bowls. However, it is also possible to replace the bowl 5 and the bowls 8 to 9 of the chemical application station with a pad store device for simplification and space saving.

Such an arrangement, including chemical padding, is shown in the integrated continuous processing apparatus of FIGS.

[0041]

[Table 5]

Equipment Configuration Although the individual processing steps incorporated in super scouring have been characterized, as mentioned above, two passes are made at the expense of cost, productivity, and difficulty in processing materials. It is difficult to perform such a process with a conventional wool scouring machine, since it can be performed only by a formula operation.

To achieve the best of super scouring, especially the removal of residual debris and dust and the intermediate peroxide bleaching process, it is necessary to dry the wool after bleaching with peroxide.

To consider performing super scouring by passing once through a linear array of processing equipment, one must first consider the following equipment using normal scouring components: . In order:

Three high-temperature scouring bowls, one medium-temperature rinsing bowl, one high-temperature peroxide bleaching bowl,
Dryer, scoured wool purifier, hopper for relaying wool mat, 2nd stage high temperature surfactant / dispersant bowl, acid extraction bowl, alkali neutralization bowl,
A hot rinse bowl, and another dryer.

Such processing sequences are relatively expensive, long, difficult to accommodate, and potentially difficult to manage.

Here, the inventor demands the selection and design of equipment components that minimize the above-mentioned disadvantages and provide an effective equipment configuration capable of efficiently performing super-scouring. , And innovation in placement.

Here, the content proposed by the inventor is summarized as follows, and various characteristics are numbered and shown in FIGS.

1. The wet processing bowl process may optionally be replaced by a double squeeze roller padding system that does not require a complete wet processing bowl. This device is a surfactant double squeezing (DDS) device for which the inventor and his colleagues have applied for a patent. Examples are shown in FIGS. 1 (a-d) (4). A similar system can be used for acid application (9). In the latter case, the acid extraction step can be completed during the dwell time with a small accumulator attached to the wet feed hopper (10) feeding the next neutralization bowl.

2. The arrangement of the equipment can be potentially simplified by arranging the two wet treatment sections in parallel and performing the two drying operations with one drying device. Is obvious. After passing through a section of the wet treatment arrangement and after passing through the first dryer, the wool is cleaned in a refined wool purifier and can be easily transported by pneumatic or conveyor to the feed hopper of the second wet stage. .

(Industrial Applicability) This has the following great advantages. (A) The expensive investment amount of two separate drying devices can be substantially reduced.
(B) thermal energy can be saved by performing the two drying operations in the same insulated cabinet and by more efficient use of fans, coils, humid air, and heat recovery; The cost required for the preceding drying operation can be reduced. (C) The length of the equipment can be greatly reduced, and there is a possibility of cost reduction. Further, the bottom area of the equipment occupying the floor of the factory is excellent in strategic logistics and easy to manage.
(D) The overall investment cost of such equipment does not significantly exceed the investment cost of an eight-bowl linear equipment configuration currently favored in the industry.

Applicants believe that this new or similar double row configuration will make a significant step towards achieving efficient super-scouring and its attendant product gains.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 (a) is a plan view of a configuration of equipment.

FIG. 1 (b) is an elevation view of the second stage facility shown in FIG. 1 (a), incorporating the rescrutiny, extraction, and neutralization stages.

FIG. 1 (c) is a perspective view of the equipment shown in FIG. 1 (ab).

FIG. 1 (d) is an elevation view of a first portion of a wet processing facility, including scouring and bleach application.

[Procedural Amendment] Submission of translation of Article 34 Amendment of the Patent Cooperation Treaty

[Submission date] March 27, 2000 (2000.3.27)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

15. A scouring machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a product exhibiting excellent color and processing performance and having no iron-related discoloration problem in wet processing is provided to a yarn spinner or a processor. Wool or other similar fibers produced by the means of).

[Procedural Amendment] Submission of translation of Article 34 Amendment of the Patent Cooperation Treaty

[Submission date] March 27, 2000 (2000.3.27)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE ), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IS, JP, KE, KG , KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZW (72) Inventors McLaughlin, John Robert New Zealand, Canterbury, Lincoln, Eastbelt 63 (72) Inventors Taylor, Murray Edwin, New Zealand, Canterbury, Loreschon, John Street 9 (72) Inventors Rankin, Douglas Alexander New Zealand, Christchurch, Waipara Street 28 (72) Inventors Middlewood, Paul Gregory New Zealand, Christchurch, Waterloo Road 276 (72) Meyer Le Pine, Philippa New Zealand, Christchurch, St Martins, Kauwai Terrace 11 (72) Inventor Mesman, Paul Joannes Roy New Zealand, Christchurch, St Martins, Kauai Terrace 11 (72) Inventor Manson , Stephen Barry New Zealand, Christchurch, Horn Hay Road 138

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A scouring step in which the fiber is subjected to an acid extraction step to remove absorbed iron, thereby significantly improving the brightness (tristimulus value of Y) of the fiber; A scouring step in which a bleaching step is performed in a bowl or pad according to the process, followed by drying, rewetting, and chemical reduction to stabilize the bleached color and prevent reversion in the dyeing tank; (c) scouring A scouring step of drying and dusting the clean fibers and re-soaking in a liquor containing a surfactant and a dispersant to effectively remove excess residual debris; or (d) an intermediate drying and dust removal step A scouring process comprising two separate wet processing procedures, thereby significantly reducing the level of residual oils and pesticides and minimizing the risk of market resistance associated with traces of animal pesticides; At least of One scouring machine of fibers wool or other similar incorporating. 2. The scouring of wool or other similar fibers according to claim 1, characterized in that the chemical treatment is carried out by means of a double squeezing padding process with spraying of liquor, together with an accumulator and a feed hopper if necessary. Machine. 3. Wool or similar fibers according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a reinforced scouring step is incorporated simultaneously during a single pass through a scouring machine having a substantially reverse configuration. Scouring machine. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of drying the fibers in both the intermediate and final stages, wherein the drying operation can be performed conveniently and economically by combining the drying operations in an integrated drying module. A scouring machine for wool or similar fibers according to any one of the preceding claims. 5. Use of a peroxide in the bleaching step, applied by a pad applicator, dried on wool as it passes through a first dryer and neutralized with a reducing agent in a second bowl in a parallel row. A wool or similar fiber scouring machine according to any of the preceding claims. 6. Wool or wool according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bleached peroxide is applied in a conventional bowl, for example the bowls 3-6 of the first wetting step before intermediate drying. A similar fiber scouring machine. 7. The level of residual grease can be very low by incorporating an additional scouring step into the first and second bowls of the second stage.
A wool or similar fiber scouring machine according to any of the preceding claims. 8. The use of surfactants and dispersants together with only very low levels of dissolved salts in the first two bowls of the second bowl row, The wool or similar fiber scouring machine according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising efficiently removing residual soil from wool. 9. Wool or wool according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate stage of the treatment line comprises a scoured fiber purifier for effectively removing dust and finely cut fibers. A similar fiber scouring machine. 10. The scouring of wool or similar fibers according to claim 9, characterized in that the cleaned fibers can be further subjected to a subsequent wet treatment to remove further dust and fines. Machine. 11. Applying the acid using a pad store system and completing the acid extraction step during the dwell time in a small accumulator attached to a wet feed hopper for delivery to a subsequent neutralization bowl. 3. A scouring machine for wool or similar fibers according to claim 2, characterized in that 12. The arrangement of the equipment is such that the two wet processing sections are arranged in parallel together, the two drying operations are integrated in a single drying apparatus, and thus after passing a section of the wet processing train, and The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that after passing through the first dryer, the fibers are cleaned in a scoured fiber cleaner and can be easily transported pneumatically or on a conveyor to the feed hopper in the second wetting stage. A scouring machine for the described wool or similar fibers. 13. A wool or similar fiber scouring machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 14. Wool or similar fiber produced by a scouring machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains low dust and residual soil. 15. A scouring machine according to claim 1, which provides a yarn spinner or a processor with a product exhibiting excellent color and processing performance and having no iron-related discoloration problem in wet processing. Wool or other similar fibers produced by means.